Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-11-24
THE ARMY.

synopsis OF the Report of Lieutenant Com
erai p. ii. Sheridan to the secretarv a,
War-fresent Strength of the Army, Rec
ommendations for Increase, in Regard
to Militia, Etc.
WAsHINGToN, Nov. 16.-Lieutenant-Genera
r. h sheridan has presented his annual report
" sne secretary of War. From the report it
appears that at the date of the last consolidat-
GO returns the army consisted Of 200 officers
snd "a, 2S6 men, including Indian scouts
Inc ACKNOWLEDGEMENT briefly sums up the
conaition OF the various divisions of the army,
sno OF tne division of the Missouri says that
Wniie It has been free from Indian hostilities of
any magnitude, many operations OF a minor
nature have been rendered necessary.
troops have been continually occu
pied in patroling the Oklahoma
country and have been successful in keeping
intruders out OF that region, The gradual
spread OF railroads throughout the Territory
can however. ultimately have but one effect
ana General Sheridan is now OF opinion that
congress may well consider the advisability OF
opening up portions at least Of this country to
settlement.
The General reviews the difficulties arising
In August last in Colorado, near the Uncom-
pahagre Indian reservation, and their deter.
minatfon through the interceSsfon OF Lieu
tenant Burnett with small detachment of the
Ninth cavalry. He also touches upon the re-
cent trouble occurring on the Crow Indian
reservation in Montana and its settlement by
General Ruger. In order to quiet the restless
young men among the Crow Indians, the report
says, General Ruger has been authorized to
enlist about thirty of their number as scouts
and take them to Fort Custer. The Crows
have always been friendly, and make it a boast
that they have never killed white man, and
would be great pity il any thing should now
occur to disturb the peaceful relations of so
long standing, and General Sheridan is con-
fdent that General Ruger will be able to effect
permanent settlement that will be satlSfac-
tory to the Crows we'll as the Government
In regard TO the concentration of the army in
the larger posts the report says that the work
on the new post at Denver, where it is proposed
to place ten companies, will shortly be COM
menced; that at San Antonio has been pro-
crossing favorably during the year: the ground
for the new post near Chicago, will pass into
the possession of the Government at an early
day, and at Fort Smelling both the reservations
are favorable for the establishment of a large
garrison, and only some additional buildings are
required for their accommodation. The recon-
struction of Fort Riley has been actively prose
cuted during the year, but before it can be
completed additional appropriations will be
necessary. No other post in the country pos
sesses such advantages for the location of a
school of practice for light batteries and for
cavalry exercises, and since it's establishment
for these purposes has been authorized by
Congress it has been deemed but true economy
to erect only buildings of substantial and
permanent nature, so that with the new
equipment of breech-loading steel f1eld-guns,
metal carr ages and improved harness, now be-
ing manufactured by the Ordnance Department,
the service will probably derive marked bene
fit from this station for number of years.
General Sheridan does not loo'l favorably up
On the proposition of General Miles to separate
the Indians now at San Carlos into several
camps about one hundred or two hundre miles
apart, deeming it for the best interests of the
Territory of Arizona and the Indians them
selves that they should be kept in one body,
and the forces necessary for their control con-
centrated at single point Divided into diff
ferent bands, he says, each location might be-
come the center of disturbances, and the diff
culties of their supervision would be greatly
Increased.
The General expresses regret at the fact of
slight increase in the number or assertions dur.
Ing the year and sees no remedy FOR IT, He
looks favorably on the new plan OF monthly
payments. The recruiting service ne says, has
enlisted increased number of good men,
Discipline is good. The artillery, infantry and
cavalry schools are reported to be doing good
work and the army has greatly improved in
rifle practice. The General renews his recon-
mendation that 5000 men be addedto the army,
and that two Majors and two Captains be added
TO each infantry regiment. He recommends
the appointment of board to frame
revised tactics to meet the changes in
handling men occasioned by changes in the
methods of war. The General urges, as a
measure highly promotive OF efficiency, the
for duty, but whose retention on the active list
entails additional work on men who are, at the
same time, withheld from promotion thereby
On the question of arms the report says the
time is near at hand when the army should be
supplied with machine guns, and says that
unless an effective arm of this character is
developed by an American manufacturer very
soon the Government should adopt some
foreign repeating gun.
On the subject OF our coast defenses, the
- ,1rot- hot hoy
teriorate during the year: that adequate de-
TENS s must be the work of years and attained
at heavy outlay. In the meantime, he says, the
dynamite gun experiments show valuable quail
tiles and good results within their range, and
that experimenting with a view to their further
development should be encouraged Desirable
features are the speed with which they can De
manufactured and their comparative inexpen-
siveneSs.
General Sheridan concludes his report as fol-
lows: "I am strongly in favor Of the general
Government extending all possible aid to the
National Guard of the different States, as they
constitute body of troops that in any great
emergency would form an Important part OF
our military force. They should be armed
with the best weapons amply provided with
complete camp and garrison equipage and In
structed in the various drills and exercises
according to the tactics and systems
followed in the regular army. Accord
inc to nv observation and experience,
most of the State troops now
march we'll and handle the gun well, but they
are deficient in discipline and in all the dutles
that teach soldier to take care OF hlmseH
while in camp or upon a march. This defect
can best be overcome by establishing some
system of encampment under the control and
direction and at the entire expense OF the gen
eral Government; in the development OF sucn
a measure the entire army as well as myself
nersonalIy, will be glad to render such assist
ance as lies in our power, and recommend that
the favorable consideration of the subject may
he commended to Congress.
The Richest Gold Mine Ever Discovered.
PREscoTT, Ariz., Nov. 15.-Private ad-
vices show that the recently discovered
cold mine ten miles from here on the
Hassayampa river is richer by far than